Man in White, Woman in Black, Morocco

Irving Penn began doing covers for the glamour magazine Vogue in 1943. In addition to fashion photography, he specialized in individual and group portraits. Perhaps his most unusual series featured citizens from around the globe wearing their traditional clothing and adornments. Published in the 1974 book Worlds in a Small Room, the artist captured his subjects in an austere studio environment. Removed from any reference to their daily lives, such portraits are less about the character of the individual than about broader cultural ideas of style, beauty, and gender roles.